Droughts and heat waves have cut orange production in half in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, with total losses valued around MXN100 million (US$8.6 million), website Hoytamaulipas.net reported.

Local citrus union representative Arcadio Meléndez Rivera, told the website more than 2,000 producers had been affected by the damages, which indirectly affected around 10,000 people.

"The citrus industry is in decline, even to the point of disappearing as its unaffordable," Rivera was quoted as saying.

"Recently they have made applications to the state government, before the secretary of rural development and SAGARPA (Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food), for emergency support with respect to the drought and heat waves in all these months.

"In tons it represents around 50,000 (metric tons) at an average loss of MXN1,500 (US$129.50) to MX2,000 (US$172.70) per ton."

Rivera told the website the industry needed a regional strategic plan to study the statistics and find a plan to re-activate the sector.

On another front the Tamaulipas state government is investing MXN5 million (US$431,650) in protecting citrus zones from Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, website Gaceta.mx reported.

The investment will go towards monitoring and diagnosis across 37,000 hectares of citrus areas across the state, which is still declared as HLB-free.

Related story: Mexican state expects 200,000MT citrus reduction

Photo: Toda Fruta

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